When most people think of Emily Dickinson, they picture a thin, sad-looking woman dressed in white, living alone in a big house, scribbling poems on scraps of paper.

But Emily was not alone. Her dog, Carlo -a large, floppy, drooly Newfoundland - was her constant companion, her 'shaggy ally' in the world. Together Emily and Carlo explored the woods and town around them, visiting friends and enjoying each other's company.

and something more: The author, Mary Rhodes Figley, of Emily and Carlo is quite the Emily Dickinson scholar. She is a member of the Emily Dickinson International Society, and her academic paper on Emily and Carlo was published in The Emily Dickinson Journal. And, as a Frances Perkins Scholar at Mount Holyoke College, Figley took a class about Emily at the Emily Dickinson Homestead in Amherst, Massachusetts.

I particularly liked Figley's personal connection to this story, as she explained in the Author's Note: "After my Emily Dickinson class was finished, I volunteered next door at the Evergreens [Emily's brother's house] for a semester. When I walked down the path between the two houses, I could imagine Carlo chasing squirrels or being ordered off the porch by Emily's sister, Vinnie. He must have been a hard dog to ignore but an easy dog for Emily to love." Her description reminds me of my sweet lovable black Lab who sits by my feet while I write, and often nudges me with a wet nose when it's time to go for a walk.

Hi there Jeanne, I've been seeing this book around but haven't had a chance to read it yet - your review makes me want to pick it up. Dickinson's poetry is just so hauntingly beautiful, one would be interested to find out more about her life. I'm glad that you shared the backstory behind the writing of this picture book - the author sounds like a true Dickinsonian Scholar indeed. :)

What an interesting book! I read a picture book not that long about about a girl who's aunt was Emily Dickinson...although now I can't remember the title and I could be wrong. It could have been a different poet. Either way, I like the idea of a different perspective of an author's story.

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occupation: first and foremost... children's book author. Also SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) school group docent and Council Member, public library Board of Trustee member, former middle school Language Arts and Writing Workshop teacher and high-tech attorney

represented by: the fabulous Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agencyloves: children's literature, SCBWI, the beauty and power of words, modern art and architecture, chocolate, exploring new places, adventures, hiking, flower gardens, zumba, modern dance classes, my wonderful family and friends and adopted Humane Society tabby cat AND writing a true tale ... with something more!

And here's my picture book about a stellar Steller Sea Lion, a true story ...

illustrated by Shennen Bersani

ASTRO book award!

2011 Gold Mom's Choice Award

Tells the true tale of a stellar Steller sea lion, a threatened species. Only days old when found orphaned, Astro is cared for at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. When big enough to be released, he has other plans! Astro swims back towards the Center and even joins a walk-a-thon! The book tells of his journey to his current home at the Mystic Aquariumin Connecticut.